How to make HTTP request in Swift?

You can use URL, URLRequest and URLSession or NSURLConnection as you'd normally do in Objective-C. Note that for iOS 7.0 and later, URLSession is preferred.

Using URLSession

Initialize a URL object and a URLSessionDataTask from URLSession. Then run the task with resume().

let url = URL(string: "http://www.stackoverflow.com")!

let task = URLSession.shared.dataTask(with: url) {(data, response, error) in
    guard let data = data else { return }
    print(String(data: data, encoding: .utf8)!)
}

task.resume()

Using NSURLConnection

First, initialize a URL and a URLRequest:

let url = URL(string: "http://www.stackoverflow.com")!
var request = URLRequest(url: url)
request.httpMethod = "POST" 

Then, you can load the request asynchronously with:

NSURLConnection.sendAsynchronousRequest(request, queue: OperationQueue.main) {(response, data, error) in
    guard let data = data else { return }
    print(String(data: data, encoding: .utf8)!)
}

Or you can initialize an NSURLConnection:

let connection = NSURLConnection(request: request, delegate:nil, startImmediately: true)

Just make sure to set your delegate to something other than nil and use the delegate methods to work with the response and data received.

For more detail, check the documentation for the NSURLConnectionDataDelegate protocol

Testing on an Xcode playground

If you want to try this code on a Xcode playground, add import PlaygroundSupport to your playground, as well as the following call:

PlaygroundPage.current.needsIndefiniteExecution = true

This will allow you to use asynchronous code in playgrounds.

---

Check Below Codes :

1. SynchonousRequest

Swift 1.2

    let urlPath: String = "YOUR_URL_HERE"
    var url: NSURL = NSURL(string: urlPath)!
    var request1: NSURLRequest = NSURLRequest(URL: url)
    var response: AutoreleasingUnsafeMutablePointer<NSURLResponse?>=nil
    var dataVal: NSData =  NSURLConnection.sendSynchronousRequest(request1, returningResponse: response, error:nil)!
    var err: NSError
    println(response)
    var jsonResult: NSDictionary = NSJSONSerialization.JSONObjectWithData(dataVal, options: NSJSONReadingOptions.MutableContainers, error: &err) as? NSDictionary
    println("Synchronous\(jsonResult)")

Swift 2.0 +

let urlPath: String = "YOUR_URL_HERE"
    let url: NSURL = NSURL(string: urlPath)!
    let request1: NSURLRequest = NSURLRequest(URL: url)
    let response: AutoreleasingUnsafeMutablePointer<NSURLResponse?>=nil


    do{

        let dataVal = try NSURLConnection.sendSynchronousRequest(request1, returningResponse: response)

            print(response)
            do {
                if let jsonResult = try NSJSONSerialization.JSONObjectWithData(dataVal, options: []) as? NSDictionary {
                    print("Synchronous\(jsonResult)")
                }
            } catch let error as NSError {
                print(error.localizedDescription)
            }



    }catch let error as NSError
    {
         print(error.localizedDescription)
    }

2. AsynchonousRequest

Swift 1.2

let urlPath: String = "YOUR_URL_HERE"
    var url: NSURL = NSURL(string: urlPath)!
    var request1: NSURLRequest = NSURLRequest(URL: url)
    let queue:NSOperationQueue = NSOperationQueue()
    NSURLConnection.sendAsynchronousRequest(request1, queue: queue, completionHandler:{ (response: NSURLResponse!, data: NSData!, error: NSError!) -> Void in
        var err: NSError
        var jsonResult: NSDictionary = NSJSONSerialization.JSONObjectWithData(data, options: NSJSONReadingOptions.MutableContainers, error: nil) as NSDictionary
        println("Asynchronous\(jsonResult)")
       })

Swift 2.0 +

let urlPath: String = "YOUR_URL_HERE"
    let url: NSURL = NSURL(string: urlPath)!
    let request1: NSURLRequest = NSURLRequest(URL: url)
    let queue:NSOperationQueue = NSOperationQueue()

    NSURLConnection.sendAsynchronousRequest(request1, queue: queue, completionHandler:{ (response: NSURLResponse?, data: NSData?, error: NSError?) -> Void in

        do {
            if let jsonResult = try NSJSONSerialization.JSONObjectWithData(data!, options: []) as? NSDictionary {
                print("ASynchronous\(jsonResult)")
            }
        } catch let error as NSError {
            print(error.localizedDescription)
        }


    })

3. As usual URL connection

Swift 1.2

    var dataVal = NSMutableData()
    let urlPath: String = "YOUR URL HERE"
    var url: NSURL = NSURL(string: urlPath)!
    var request: NSURLRequest = NSURLRequest(URL: url)
    var connection: NSURLConnection = NSURLConnection(request: request, delegate: self, startImmediately: true)!
    connection.start()

Then

 func connection(connection: NSURLConnection!, didReceiveData data: NSData!){
    self.dataVal?.appendData(data)
}


func connectionDidFinishLoading(connection: NSURLConnection!)
{
    var error: NSErrorPointer=nil

    var jsonResult: NSDictionary = NSJSONSerialization.JSONObjectWithData(dataVal!, options: NSJSONReadingOptions.MutableContainers, error: error) as NSDictionary

    println(jsonResult)



}

Swift 2.0 +

   var dataVal = NSMutableData()
    let urlPath: String = "YOUR URL HERE"
    var url: NSURL = NSURL(string: urlPath)!
    var request: NSURLRequest = NSURLRequest(URL: url)
    var connection: NSURLConnection = NSURLConnection(request: request, delegate: self, startImmediately: true)!
    connection.start()

Then

func connection(connection: NSURLConnection!, didReceiveData data: NSData!){
    dataVal.appendData(data)
}


func connectionDidFinishLoading(connection: NSURLConnection!)
{

    do {
        if let jsonResult = try NSJSONSerialization.JSONObjectWithData(dataVal, options: []) as? NSDictionary {
            print(jsonResult)
        }
    } catch let error as NSError {
        print(error.localizedDescription)
    }

}

4. Asynchonous POST Request

Swift 1.2

    let urlPath: String = "YOUR URL HERE"
    var url: NSURL = NSURL(string: urlPath)!
    var request1: NSMutableURLRequest = NSMutableURLRequest(URL: url)

    request1.HTTPMethod = "POST"
     var stringPost="deviceToken=123456" // Key and Value

    let data = stringPost.dataUsingEncoding(NSUTF8StringEncoding)

    request1.timeoutInterval = 60
    request1.HTTPBody=data
    request1.HTTPShouldHandleCookies=false

    let queue:NSOperationQueue = NSOperationQueue()

     NSURLConnection.sendAsynchronousRequest(request1, queue: queue, completionHandler:{ (response: NSURLResponse!, data: NSData!, error: NSError!) -> Void in


        var err: NSError

        var jsonResult: NSDictionary = NSJSONSerialization.JSONObjectWithData(data, options: NSJSONReadingOptions.MutableContainers, error: nil) as NSDictionary
        println("AsSynchronous\(jsonResult)")


        })

Swift 2.0 +

let urlPath: String = "YOUR URL HERE"
    let url: NSURL = NSURL(string: urlPath)!
    let request1: NSMutableURLRequest = NSMutableURLRequest(URL: url)

    request1.HTTPMethod = "POST"
    let stringPost="deviceToken=123456" // Key and Value

    let data = stringPost.dataUsingEncoding(NSUTF8StringEncoding)

    request1.timeoutInterval = 60
    request1.HTTPBody=data
    request1.HTTPShouldHandleCookies=false

    let queue:NSOperationQueue = NSOperationQueue()

    NSURLConnection.sendAsynchronousRequest(request1, queue: queue, completionHandler:{ (response: NSURLResponse?, data: NSData?, error: NSError?) -> Void in

        do {
            if let jsonResult = try NSJSONSerialization.JSONObjectWithData(data!, options: []) as? NSDictionary {
                print("ASynchronous\(jsonResult)")
            }
        } catch let error as NSError {
            print(error.localizedDescription)
        }


    })

5. Asynchonous GET Request

Swift 1.2

    let urlPath: String = "YOUR URL HERE"
    var url: NSURL = NSURL(string: urlPath)!
    var request1: NSMutableURLRequest = NSMutableURLRequest(URL: url)

    request1.HTTPMethod = "GET"
    request1.timeoutInterval = 60
    let queue:NSOperationQueue = NSOperationQueue()

     NSURLConnection.sendAsynchronousRequest(request1, queue: queue, completionHandler:{ (response: NSURLResponse!, data: NSData!, error: NSError!) -> Void in


        var err: NSError

        var jsonResult: NSDictionary = NSJSONSerialization.JSONObjectWithData(data, options: NSJSONReadingOptions.MutableContainers, error: nil) as NSDictionary
        println("AsSynchronous\(jsonResult)")


        })

Swift 2.0 +

let urlPath: String = "YOUR URL HERE"
    let url: NSURL = NSURL(string: urlPath)!
    let request1: NSMutableURLRequest = NSMutableURLRequest(URL: url)

    request1.HTTPMethod = "GET"
    let queue:NSOperationQueue = NSOperationQueue()

    NSURLConnection.sendAsynchronousRequest(request1, queue: queue, completionHandler:{ (response: NSURLResponse?, data: NSData?, error: NSError?) -> Void in

        do {
            if let jsonResult = try NSJSONSerialization.JSONObjectWithData(data!, options: []) as? NSDictionary {
                print("ASynchronous\(jsonResult)")
            }
        } catch let error as NSError {
            print(error.localizedDescription)
        }


    })

6. Image(File) Upload

Swift 2.0 +

  let mainURL = "YOUR_URL_HERE"

    let url = NSURL(string: mainURL)
    let request = NSMutableURLRequest(URL: url!)
    let boundary = "78876565564454554547676"
    request.addValue("multipart/form-data; boundary=\(boundary)", forHTTPHeaderField: "Content-Type")


    request.HTTPMethod = "POST" // POST OR PUT What you want
    let session = NSURLSession(configuration:NSURLSessionConfiguration.defaultSessionConfiguration(), delegate: nil, delegateQueue: nil)

    let imageData = UIImageJPEGRepresentation(UIImage(named: "Test.jpeg")!, 1)





    var body = NSMutableData()

    body.appendData("--\(boundary)\r\n".dataUsingEncoding(NSUTF8StringEncoding)!)

    // Append your parameters

    body.appendData("Content-Disposition: form-data; name=\"name\"\r\n\r\n".dataUsingEncoding(NSUTF8StringEncoding)!)
    body.appendData("PREMKUMAR\r\n".dataUsingEncoding(NSUTF8StringEncoding, allowLossyConversion: true)!)
    body.appendData("--\(boundary)\r\n".dataUsingEncoding(NSUTF8StringEncoding)!)

    body.appendData("Content-Disposition: form-data; name=\"description\"\r\n\r\n".dataUsingEncoding(NSUTF8StringEncoding)!)
    body.appendData("IOS_DEVELOPER\r\n".dataUsingEncoding(NSUTF8StringEncoding, allowLossyConversion: true)!)
    body.appendData("--\(boundary)\r\n".dataUsingEncoding(NSUTF8StringEncoding)!)


    // Append your Image/File Data

    var imageNameval = "HELLO.jpg"

    body.appendData("--\(boundary)\r\n".dataUsingEncoding(NSUTF8StringEncoding)!)
    body.appendData("Content-Disposition: form-data; name=\"profile_photo\"; filename=\"\(imageNameval)\"\r\n".dataUsingEncoding(NSUTF8StringEncoding)!)
    body.appendData("Content-Type: image/jpeg\r\n\r\n".dataUsingEncoding(NSUTF8StringEncoding)!)
    body.appendData(imageData!)
    body.appendData("\r\n".dataUsingEncoding(NSUTF8StringEncoding)!)

    body.appendData("--\(boundary)--\r\n".dataUsingEncoding(NSUTF8StringEncoding)!)

    request.HTTPBody = body




    let dataTask = session.dataTaskWithRequest(request) { (data, response, error) -> Void in

        if error != nil {

            //handle error


        }
        else {




            let outputString : NSString = NSString(data:data!, encoding:NSUTF8StringEncoding)!
            print("Response:\(outputString)")


        }
    }
    dataTask.resume()

---

Another option is the Alamofire lib that offers Chainable Request / Response methods.

https://github.com/Alamofire/Alamofire

Making a Request

import Alamofire

Alamofire.request(.GET, "http://httpbin.org/get")

Response Handling

Alamofire.request(.GET, "http://httpbin.org/get", parameters: ["foo": "bar"])
         .response { request, response, data, error in
              print(request)
              print(response)
              print(error)
          }

---

Swift 4 and above : Data Request using URLSession API

   //create the url with NSURL
   let url = URL(string: "https://jsonplaceholder.typicode.com/todos/1")! //change the url
        
   //create the session object
   let session = URLSession.shared
        
   //now create the URLRequest object using the url object
   let request = URLRequest(url: url)
        
   //create dataTask using the session object to send data to the server
   let task = session.dataTask(with: request as URLRequest, completionHandler: { data, response, error in
            
       guard error == nil else {
           return
       }
            
       guard let data = data else {
           return
       }
            
      do {
         //create json object from data
         if let json = try JSONSerialization.jsonObject(with: data, options: .mutableContainers) as? [String: Any] {
            print(json)
         }
      } catch let error {
        print(error.localizedDescription)
      }
   })

   task.resume()

Swift 4 and above, Decodable and Result enum

//AppError enum which shows all possible errors
enum AppError: Error {
    case networkError(Error)
    case dataNotFound
    case jsonParsingError(Error)
    case invalidStatusCode(Int)
}

//Result enum to show success or failure
enum Result<T> {
    case success(T)
    case failure(AppError)
}

//dataRequest which sends request to given URL and convert to Decodable Object
func dataRequest<T: Decodable>(with url: String, objectType: T.Type, completion: @escaping (Result<T>) -> Void) {
    
    //create the url with NSURL
    let dataURL = URL(string: url)! //change the url
    
    //create the session object
    let session = URLSession.shared
    
    //now create the URLRequest object using the url object
    let request = URLRequest(url: dataURL, cachePolicy: .useProtocolCachePolicy, timeoutInterval: 60)
    
    //create dataTask using the session object to send data to the server
    let task = session.dataTask(with: request, completionHandler: { data, response, error in
        
        guard error == nil else {
            completion(Result.failure(AppError.networkError(error!)))
            return
        }
        
        guard let data = data else {
            completion(Result.failure(AppError.dataNotFound))
            return
        }
        
        do {
            //create decodable object from data
            let decodedObject = try JSONDecoder().decode(objectType.self, from: data)
            completion(Result.success(decodedObject))
        } catch let error {
            completion(Result.failure(AppError.jsonParsingError(error as! DecodingError)))
        }
    })
    
    task.resume()
}

example:

//if we want to fetch todo from placeholder API, then we define the ToDo struct and call dataRequest and pass "https://jsonplaceholder.typicode.com/todos/1" string url.

struct ToDo: Decodable {
    let id: Int
    let userId: Int
    let title: String
    let completed: Bool
    
}

dataRequest(with: "https://jsonplaceholder.typicode.com/todos/1", objectType: ToDo.self) { (result: Result) in
    switch result {
    case .success(let object):
        print(object)
    case .failure(let error):
        print(error)
    }
}

//this prints the result:

ToDo(id: 1, userId: 1, title: "delectus aut autem", completed: false)

---

Basic Swift 3+ Solution

guard let url = URL(string: "http://www.stackoverflow.com") else { return }

let task = URLSession.shared.dataTask(with: url) { data, response, error in

  guard let data = data, error == nil else { return }

  print(NSString(data: data, encoding: String.Encoding.utf8.rawValue))
}

task.resume()

---

Using URLSession + Swift 5

Just adding to cezar's answer, if you want to make web request using Apple's URLSession class, there are multiple way to do the task

Simple GET Request with URL Simple GET Request with URL and Parameters Simple GET Request with URL with Error Handlings Simple POST Request with URL, Parameters with Error Handlings

1. Simple GET Request with URL

func simpleGetUrlRequest()
    {
        let url = URL(string: "https://httpbin.org/get")!

        let task = URLSession.shared.dataTask(with: url) {(data, response, error) in
            guard let data = data else { return }
            print("The response is : ",String(data: data, encoding: .utf8)!)
            //print(NSString(data: data, encoding: String.Encoding.utf8.rawValue) as Any)
        }
        task.resume()
    }

Note : Make sure You must add "NSAppTransportSecurity" key in pList for http requests

<key>NSAppTransportSecurity</key>
<dict>
<key>NSAllowsArbitraryLoads</key>
<true/>
</dict>

2. Simple GET Request with URL and Parameters

func simpleGetUrlWithParamRequest()
    {
        let url = URL(string: "https://www.google.com/search?q=peace")!
        
        let task = URLSession.shared.dataTask(with: url) {(data, response, error) in
            
            if error != nil || data == nil {
                print("Client error!")
                return
            }
            guard let response = response as? HTTPURLResponse, (200...299).contains(response.statusCode) else {
                print("Server error!")
                return
            }
            print("The Response is : ",response)
        }
        task.resume()
    }

3. Simple GET Request with URL with Error Handlings

func simpleGetUrlRequestWithErrorHandling()
    {
        let session = URLSession.shared
        let url = URL(string: "https://httpbin.org/get")!
        
        let task = session.dataTask(with: url) { data, response, error in
            
            if error != nil || data == nil {
                print("Client error!")
                return
            }
            
            guard let response = response as? HTTPURLResponse, (200...299).contains(response.statusCode) else {
                print("Server error!")
                return
            }
            
            guard let mime = response.mimeType, mime == "application/json" else {
                print("Wrong MIME type!")
                return
            }
            
            do {
                let json = try JSONSerialization.jsonObject(with: data!, options: [])
                print("The Response is : ",json)
            } catch {
                print("JSON error: \(error.localizedDescription)")
            }
            
        }
        task.resume()
    }

4. Simple POST Request with URL, Parameters with Error Handlings.

func simplePostRequestWithParamsAndErrorHandling(){
        let configuration = URLSessionConfiguration.default
        configuration.timeoutIntervalForRequest = 30
        configuration.timeoutIntervalForResource = 30
        let session = URLSession(configuration: configuration)
        
        let url = URL(string: "https://httpbin.org/post")!
        
        var request = URLRequest(url: url)
        request.httpMethod = "POST"
        request.setValue("application/json", forHTTPHeaderField: "Content-Type")
        request.addValue("application/json", forHTTPHeaderField: "Accept")
        
        let parameters = ["username": "foo", "password": "123456"]
        
        do {
            request.httpBody = try JSONSerialization.data(withJSONObject: parameters, options: .prettyPrinted)
        } catch let error {
            print(error.localizedDescription)
        }
        
        let task = session.dataTask(with: request as URLRequest, completionHandler: { data, response, error in
            
            if error != nil || data == nil {
                print("Client error!")
                return
            }
            
            guard let response = response as? HTTPURLResponse, (200...299).contains(response.statusCode) else {
                print("Oops!! there is server error!")
                return
            }
            
            guard let mime = response.mimeType, mime == "application/json" else {
                print("response is not json")
                return
            }
            
            do {
                let json = try JSONSerialization.jsonObject(with: data!, options: [])
                print("The Response is : ",json)
            } catch {
                print("JSON error: \(error.localizedDescription)")
            }
            
        })
        
        task.resume()
    }

Your suggestions are appreciated!!

---

Swift 3.0

Through a small abstraction https://github.com/daltoniam/swiftHTTP

Example

    do {
        let opt = try HTTP.GET("https://google.com")
        opt.start { response in
            if let err = response.error {
                print("error: \(err.localizedDescription)")
                return //also notify app of failure as needed
            }
            print("opt finished: \(response.description)")
            //print("data is: \(response.data)") access the response of the data with response.data
        }
    } catch let error {
        print("got an error creating the request: \(error)")
    }

---

Details

Xcode 9.2, Swift 4

Xcode 10.2.1 (10E1001), Swift 5

Info.plist

NSAppTransportSecurity

Add to the info plist:

<key>NSAppTransportSecurity</key>
<dict>
    <key>NSAllowsArbitraryLoads</key>
    <true/>
</dict>

Alamofire Sample

Alamofire

import Alamofire

class AlamofireDataManager {
    fileprivate let queue: DispatchQueue
    init(queue: DispatchQueue) { self.queue = queue }

    private func createError(message: String, code: Int) -> Error {
        return NSError(domain: "dataManager", code: code, userInfo: ["message": message ])
    }

    private func make(session: URLSession = URLSession.shared, request: URLRequest, closure: ((Result<[String: Any]>) -> Void)?) {
        Alamofire.request(request).responseJSON { response in
            let complete: (Result<[String: Any]>) ->() = { result in DispatchQueue.main.async { closure?(result) } }
            switch response.result {
                case .success(let value): complete(.success(value as! [String: Any]))
                case .failure(let error): complete(.failure(error))
            }
        }
    }

    func searchRequest(term: String, closure: ((Result<[String: Any]>) -> Void)?) {
        guard let url = URL(string: "https://itunes.apple.com/search?term=\(term.replacingOccurrences(of: " ", with: "+"))") else { return }
        let request = URLRequest(url: url)
        make(request: request) { response in closure?(response) }
    }
}

Usage of Alamofire sample

private lazy var alamofireDataManager = AlamofireDataManager(queue: DispatchQueue(label: "DataManager.queue", qos: .utility))
//.........

alamofireDataManager.searchRequest(term: "jack johnson") { result in
      print(result.value ?? "no data")
      print(result.error ?? "no error")
}

URLSession Sample

import Foundation

class DataManager {

    fileprivate let queue: DispatchQueue
        init(queue: DispatchQueue) { self.queue = queue }

    private func createError(message: String, code: Int) -> Error {
        return NSError(domain: "dataManager", code: code, userInfo: ["message": message ])
    }

    private func make(session: URLSession = URLSession.shared, request: URLRequest, closure: ((_ json: [String: Any]?, _ error: Error?)->Void)?) {
        let task = session.dataTask(with: request) { [weak self] data, response, error in
            self?.queue.async {
                let complete: (_ json: [String: Any]?, _ error: Error?) ->() = { json, error in DispatchQueue.main.async { closure?(json, error) } }

                guard let self = self, error == nil else { complete(nil, error); return }
                guard let data = data else { complete(nil, self.createError(message: "No data", code: 999)); return }

                do {
                    if let json = try JSONSerialization.jsonObject(with: data, options: .mutableContainers) as? [String: Any] {
                        complete(json, nil)
                    }
                } catch let error { complete(nil, error); return }
            }
        }

        task.resume()
    }

    func searchRequest(term: String, closure: ((_ json: [String: Any]?, _ error: Error?)->Void)?) {
        let url = URL(string: "https://itunes.apple.com/search?term=\(term.replacingOccurrences(of: " ", with: "+"))")
        let request = URLRequest(url: url!)
        make(request: request) { json, error in closure?(json, error) }
    }
}

Usage of URLSession sample

private lazy var dataManager = DataManager(queue: DispatchQueue(label: "DataManager.queue", qos: .utility))
// .......
dataManager.searchRequest(term: "jack johnson") { json, error  in
      print(error ?? "nil")
      print(json ?? "nil")
      print("Update views")
}

Results

https://i.stack.imgur.com/k097d.png

---

I have done HTTP Request Both methods GET & POST with JSON Parsing this way:

on viewDidLoad():

override func viewDidLoad() {
super.viewDidLoad()

    makeGetRequest()
    makePostRequest()

}

func makePostRequest(){

    let urlPath: String = "http://www.swiftdeveloperblog.com/http-post-example-script/"
    var url: NSURL = NSURL(string: urlPath)!
    var request: NSMutableURLRequest = NSMutableURLRequest(URL: url)

    request.HTTPMethod = "POST"
    var stringPost="firstName=James&lastName=Bond" // Key and Value

    let data = stringPost.dataUsingEncoding(NSUTF8StringEncoding)

    request.timeoutInterval = 60
    request.HTTPBody=data
    request.HTTPShouldHandleCookies=false

    let queue:NSOperationQueue = NSOperationQueue()

    NSURLConnection.sendAsynchronousRequest(request, queue: NSOperationQueue(), completionHandler:{ (response:NSURLResponse!, data: NSData!, error: NSError!) -> Void in
        var error: AutoreleasingUnsafeMutablePointer<NSError?> = nil
        let jsonResult: NSDictionary! = NSJSONSerialization.JSONObjectWithData(data, options:NSJSONReadingOptions.MutableContainers, error: error) as? NSDictionary

         if (jsonResult != nil) {
            // Success
           println(jsonResult)

           let message = jsonResult["Message"] as! NSString

           println(message)
         }else {
            // Failed
            println("Failed")
        }

    })

}

func makeGetRequest(){
    var url : String = "http://api.androidhive.info/contacts/"
    var request : NSMutableURLRequest = NSMutableURLRequest()
    request.URL = NSURL(string: url)
    request.HTTPMethod = "GET"
    request.timeoutInterval = 60

    NSURLConnection.sendAsynchronousRequest(request, queue: NSOperationQueue(), completionHandler:{ (response:NSURLResponse!, data: NSData!, error: NSError!) -> Void in
        var error: AutoreleasingUnsafeMutablePointer<NSError?> = nil
        let jsonResult: NSDictionary! = NSJSONSerialization.JSONObjectWithData(data, options:NSJSONReadingOptions.MutableContainers, error: error) as? NSDictionary

        if (jsonResult != nil) {
            // Success
            println(jsonResult)

            let dataArray = jsonResult["contacts"] as! NSArray;

            for item in dataArray { // loop through data items

                let obj = item as! NSDictionary

                for (key, value) in obj {

                    println("Key: \(key) - Value: \(value)")

                    let phone = obj["phone"] as! NSDictionary;

                    let mobile = phone["mobile"] as! NSString
                    println(mobile)
                    let home = phone["home"] as! NSString
                    println(home)
                    let office = phone["office"] as! NSString
                    println(office)
                }
            }

        } else {
            // Failed
            println("Failed")
        }

    })
}

Done

---

You can use Just, a python-requests style HTTP library.

Some example of sending HTTP request with Just:

// synchronous GET request with URL query a=1
let r = Just.get("https://httpbin.org/get", params:["a":1])

// asynchronous POST request with form value and file uploads
Just.post(
    "http://justiceleauge.org/member/register",
    data: ["username": "barryallen", "password":"ReverseF1ashSucks"],
    files: ["profile_photo": .URL(fileURLWithPath:"flash.jpeg", nil)]
) { (r)
    if (r.ok) { /* success! */ }
}

In both cases, the result of a request r can be accessed in ways similar to python-request:

r.ok            // is the response successful?
r.statusCode    // status code of response
r.content       // response body as NSData?
r.text          // response body as text?
r.json          // response body parsed by NSJSONSerielization

You can find more examples in this playground

Using this library in synchronous mode in a playground is the closest thing to cURL one can get in Swift.

---

I am calling the json on login button click

@IBAction func loginClicked(sender : AnyObject) {

    var request = NSMutableURLRequest(URL: NSURL(string: kLoginURL)) // Here, kLogin contains the Login API.

    var session = NSURLSession.sharedSession()

    request.HTTPMethod = "POST"

    var err: NSError?
    request.HTTPBody = NSJSONSerialization.dataWithJSONObject(self.criteriaDic(), options: nil, error: &err) // This Line fills the web service with required parameters.
    request.addValue("application/json", forHTTPHeaderField: "Content-Type")
    request.addValue("application/json", forHTTPHeaderField: "Accept")

    var task = session.dataTaskWithRequest(request, completionHandler: {data, response, error -> Void in
        var strData = NSString(data: data, encoding: NSUTF8StringEncoding)
        var err1: NSError?
        var json2 = NSJSONSerialization.JSONObjectWithData(strData.dataUsingEncoding(NSUTF8StringEncoding), options: .MutableLeaves, error:&err1 ) as NSDictionary

        println("json2 :\(json2)")

        if(err) {
            println(err!.localizedDescription)
        }
        else {
            var success = json2["success"] as? Int
            println("Success: \(success)")
        }
    })

    task.resume()
}

Here, I have made a seperate dictionary for the parameters.

var params = ["format":"json", "MobileType":"IOS","MIN":"f8d16d98ad12acdbbe1de647414495ec","UserName":emailTxtField.text,"PWD":passwordTxtField.text,"SigninVia":"SH"]as NSDictionary
    return params
}

// You can add your own sets of parameter here.

---

In Swift 4.1 and Xcode 9.4.1.

JSON POST approach example. To check internet connection add Reachability.h & .m files from https://developer.apple.com/library/archive/samplecode/Reachability/Introduction/Intro.html#//apple_ref/doc/uid/DTS40007324-Intro-DontLinkElementID_2

func yourFunctionName {
    //Check internet connection
    let networkReachability = Reachability.forInternetConnection()
    let networkStatus:Int = (networkReachability?.currentReachabilityStatus())!.rawValue
    print(networkStatus)
    if networkStatus == NotReachable.rawValue {
        let msg = SharedClass.sharedInstance.noNetMsg//Message
        //Call alert from shared class
        SharedClass.sharedInstance.alert(view: self, title: "", message: msg)
    } else {
        //Call spinner from shared class
        SharedClass.sharedInstance.activityIndicator(view: self.view)//Play spinner

        let parameters = "Your parameters here"
        var request = URLRequest(url: URL(string: url)!)

        request.setValue("application/x-www-form-urlencoded", forHTTPHeaderField: "Content-Type")
        request.httpMethod = "POST"

        print("URL : \(request)")

        request.httpBody = parameters.data(using: .utf8)

        let task = URLSession.shared.dataTask(with: request) { data, response, error in guard let data = data, error == nil else { // check for fundamental networking error
            //Stop spinner
            SharedClass.sharedInstance.stopActivityIndicator() //Stop spinner
            //Print error in alert
            SharedClass.sharedInstance.alert(view: self, title: "", message: "\(String(describing: error!.localizedDescription))")
            return
            }

            SharedClass.sharedInstance.stopActivityIndicator() //Stop spinner

            if let httpStatus = response as? HTTPURLResponse, httpStatus.statusCode != 200 { // check for http errors
                print("statusCode should be 200, but is \(httpStatus.statusCode)")
                print("response = \(String(describing: response))")
            }

            do {
                let response = try JSONSerialization.jsonObject(with: data, options: []) as? [String: AnyObject]
                print(response!)
                //Your code here                    
            } catch let error as NSError {
                print(error)
            }
        }

        task.resume()

    }

}

If you have interest to use this function in SharedClass

//My shared class
import UIKit
class SharedClass: NSObject {

static let sharedInstance = SharedClass()

func postRequestFunction(apiName: String , parameters: String, onCompletion: @escaping (_ success: Bool, _ error: Error?, _ result: [String: Any]?)->()) {

    var URL =  "your URL here/index.php/***?"

    URL = URL.replacingOccurrences(of: "***", with: apiName)

    var request = URLRequest(url: URL(string: URL)!)
    request.setValue("application/x-www-form-urlencoded", forHTTPHeaderField: "Content-Type")
    request.httpMethod = "POST"
    print("shared URL : \(request)")
    request.httpBody = parameters.data(using: .utf8)

    var returnRes:[String:Any] = [:]
    let task = URLSession.shared.dataTask(with: request) { data, response, error in

        if let error = error {
            onCompletion(false, error, nil)
        } else {
            guard let data = data else {
                onCompletion(false, error, nil)
                return
            }

            if let httpStatus = response as? HTTPURLResponse, httpStatus.statusCode == 200 {
                do {
                   returnRes = try JSONSerialization.jsonObject(with: data, options: []) as! [String : Any]
                    onCompletion(true, nil, returnRes)

                } catch let error as NSError {
                   onCompletion(false, error, nil)
                }
            } else {
                onCompletion(false, error, nil)
            }
        }
    }
    task.resume()
}


private override init() {

}

And finally call this function like this....

SharedClass.sharedInstance.postRequestFunction(apiName: "Your API name", parameters: parameters) { (success, error, result) in
    print(result!)
    if success {
        //Your code here
    } else {
        print(error?.localizedDescription ?? "")
    }
}

---

KISS answer:

URLSession.shared.dataTask(with: URL(string: "https://google.com")!) {(data, response, error) in
    print(String(data: data!, encoding: .utf8))
}.resume()

---

A simple Swift 2.0 approach to making a HTTP GET request

The HTTP request is asynchronous so you need a way to get the returned value from the HTTP Request. This approach uses Notifiers and is spread over two classes.

The example is to check the username and password for an identifier token using the website http://www.example.com/handler.php?do=CheckUserJson&json= That is the file is called handler.php and has a switch statement on the do parameter to get a RESTful approach.

In the viewDidLoad we setup the NotifierObserver, set up the json and make the call to the getHTTPRequest function. It will return to the function checkedUsernameAndPassword with the returned parameter from the http request.

override func viewDidLoad() {
    super.viewDidLoad()
    // setup the Notification observer to catch the result of check username and password
    NSNotificationCenter.defaultCenter().addObserver(self, selector: "checkedUsernameAndPassword:", name: CHECK_USERNAME_AND_PASSWORD, object: nil)        
    let username = GlobalVariables.USER_NAME
    let password = GlobalVariables.PASSWORD
    // check username and password
    if let jsonString = Utility.checkUsernameAndPasswordJson(username, password:password){
        print("json string returned = \(jsonString)")
        let url = CHECKUSERJSON+jsonString
        // CHECKUSERJSON = http://www.example.com/handler.php?do=CheckUserJson&json=
        // jsonString = {\"username\":\"demo\",\"password\":\"demo\"}"
        // the php script handles a json request and returns a string identifier           
        Utility.getHTTPRequest(url,notifierId: CHECK_USERNAME_AND_PASSWORD)
        // the returned identifier is sent to the checkedUsernaeAndPassword function when it becomes availabel.
    }
}

There are two static functions in Utility.swift first to encode the json and then to do the HTTP call.

    static func checkUsernameAndPasswordJson(username: String, password: String) -> String?{
    let para:NSMutableDictionary = NSMutableDictionary()
        para.setValue("demo", forKey: "username")
        para.setValue("demo", forKey: "password")
    let jsonData: NSData
    do{
        jsonData = try NSJSONSerialization.dataWithJSONObject(para, options: NSJSONWritingOptions())
        let jsonString = NSString(data: jsonData, encoding: NSUTF8StringEncoding) as! String
        return jsonString
    } catch _ {
        print ("UH OOO")
        return nil
    }
}

and the Http request

    static func getHTTPRequest (url:String , notifierId: String) -> Void{
    let urlString = url
    let config = NSURLSessionConfiguration.defaultSessionConfiguration()
    let session = NSURLSession(configuration: config, delegate: nil, delegateQueue: nil)
    let safeURL = urlString.stringByAddingPercentEncodingWithAllowedCharacters(NSCharacterSet.URLQueryAllowedCharacterSet())!
    if let url = NSURL(string: safeURL){
        let request  = NSMutableURLRequest(URL: url)
        request.HTTPMethod = "GET"
        request.timeoutInterval = 60
        let taskData = session.dataTaskWithRequest(request, completionHandler: {
            (data:NSData?, response:NSURLResponse?, error:NSError?) -> Void in
            if (data != nil) {
                let result = NSString(data: data! , encoding: NSUTF8StringEncoding)
                sendNotification (notifierId, message: String(result), num: 0)
            }else{
                  sendNotification (notifierId, message: String(UTF8String: nil), num: -1)                    }
        })
    taskData.resume()
    }else{
        print("bad urlString = \(urlString)")
    }
}

The sendNotification function completes the circle. Notice that in teh Observer there is a ":" at the end of the selector string. This allows the notification to carry a payload in userInfo. I give this a String and an Int.

    static func sendNotification (key: String, message:String?, num: Int?){
    NSNotificationCenter.defaultCenter().postNotificationName(
        key,
        object: nil,
        userInfo:   (["message": message!,
                      "num": "\(num!)"])
    )
}

Note that using HTTP is oldFashioned, prefer HTTPS see How do I load an HTTP URL with App Transport Security enabled in iOS 9?

---

Update :- Xcode 13.0 & Swift 5+

GET HTTP REQUEST

let url = URL(string: "URL HERE")! //PUT Your URL
        var request = URLRequest(url: url)
        request.httpMethod = "GET"
        let task = URLSession.shared.dataTask(with: request) { data, response, error in
            guard let safeData = data,
                  let response = response as? HTTPURLResponse,
                  error == nil else {                                              // check for fundamental networking error
                      print("error", error ?? "Unknown error")
                      delegate?.onError(error!)
                      return
                  }
            
            guard (200 ... 299) ~= response.statusCode else {                    // check for http errors
                print("statusCode should be 2xx, but is \(response.statusCode)")
                print("response = \(response)")
                return
            }
            
            let responseString = String(data: safeData, encoding: .utf8)
            print("Response String = \(responseString)")
        }
        
        task.resume()

---

Here are start to finish instructions to make an HTTP request with Swift on Linux.

First create a SwiftPM package

mkdir swift-http && cd swift-http && swift package init --type executable

Then replace the contents of ./Sources/swift-http/main.swift with the code below:

import Foundation
import FoundationNetworking

let sema = DispatchSemaphore(value: 0)

URLSession.shared.dataTask(with: URL(string: "http://numbersapi.com/42")!) {(data, response, error) in
    print(String(data: data!, encoding: .utf8) ?? String(describing: error))
    sema.signal()
}.resume()

sema.wait()

Then run the code

swift run

Output example:

[6/6] Build complete!
42 is the answer to the Ultimate Question of Life, the Universe, and Everything.

Note: the DispatchSemaphore is used so that our program doesn't exit before getting a response.

You could have also done something like this:

import Foundation
import FoundationNetworking

var done = false

URLSession.shared.dataTask(with: URL(string: "http://numbersapi.com/42")!) {(data, response, error) in
    print(String(data: data!, encoding: .utf8) ?? String(describing: error))
    done = true
}.resume()

while !done { Thread.sleep(forTimeInterval: 1) }

---

 var post:NSString = "api=myposts&userid=\(uid)&page_no=0&limit_no=10"

    NSLog("PostData: %@",post);

    var url1:NSURL = NSURL(string: url)!

    var postData:NSData = post.dataUsingEncoding(NSASCIIStringEncoding)!

    var postLength:NSString = String( postData.length )

    var request:NSMutableURLRequest = NSMutableURLRequest(URL: url1)
    request.HTTPMethod = "POST"
    request.HTTPBody = postData
    request.setValue(postLength, forHTTPHeaderField: "Content-Length")
    request.setValue("application/x-www-form-urlencoded", forHTTPHeaderField: "Content-Type")
    request.setValue("application/json", forHTTPHeaderField: "Accept")

    var reponseError: NSError?
    var response: NSURLResponse?

    var urlData: NSData? = NSURLConnection.sendSynchronousRequest(request, returningResponse:&response, error:&reponseError)

    if ( urlData != nil ) {
        let res = response as NSHTTPURLResponse!;

        NSLog("Response code: %ld", res.statusCode);

        if (res.statusCode >= 200 && res.statusCode < 300)
        {
            var responseData:NSString  = NSString(data:urlData!, encoding:NSUTF8StringEncoding)!

            NSLog("Response ==> %@", responseData);

            var error: NSError?

            let jsonData:NSDictionary = NSJSONSerialization.JSONObjectWithData(urlData!, options:NSJSONReadingOptions.MutableContainers , error: &error) as NSDictionary

            let success:NSInteger = jsonData.valueForKey("error") as NSInteger

            //[jsonData[@"success"] integerValue];

            NSLog("Success: %ld", success);

            if(success == 0)
            {
                NSLog("Login SUCCESS");

                self.dataArr = jsonData.valueForKey("data") as NSMutableArray
                self.table.reloadData()

            } else {

                NSLog("Login failed1");
                ZAActivityBar.showErrorWithStatus("error", forAction: "Action2")
            }

        } else {

            NSLog("Login failed2");
            ZAActivityBar.showErrorWithStatus("error", forAction: "Action2")

        }
    } else {

        NSLog("Login failed3");
        ZAActivityBar.showErrorWithStatus("error", forAction: "Action2")
}

it will help you surely

---

//Here is an example that worked for me

//Swift function that post a request to a server with key values

func insertRecords()
{



    let usrID = txtID.text
    let checkin = lblInOut.text
    let comment = txtComment.text



    // The address of the web service
    let urlString = "http://your_url/checkInOut_post.php"

    // These are the keys that your are sending as part of the post request
    let keyValues = "id=\(usrID)&inout=\(checkin)&comment=\(comment)"




    // 1 - Create the session by getting the configuration and then
    //     creating the session

    let config = NSURLSessionConfiguration.defaultSessionConfiguration()
    let session = NSURLSession(configuration: config, delegate: nil, delegateQueue: nil)


    // 2 - Create the URL Object

    if let url = NSURL(string: urlString){


        // 3 - Create the Request Object

        var request  = NSMutableURLRequest(URL: url)
        request.HTTPMethod = "POST"

        // set the key values
        request.HTTPBody = keyValues.dataUsingEncoding(NSUTF8StringEncoding);


        // 4 - execute the request

        let taskData = session.dataTaskWithRequest(request, completionHandler: {

            (data:NSData!, response:NSURLResponse!, error:NSError!) -> Void in

            println("\(data)")

            // 5 - Do something with the Data back

            if (data != nil) {

                // we got some data back
                println("\(data)")

                let result = NSString(data: data , encoding: NSUTF8StringEncoding)
                println("\(result)")

                if result == "OK" {

                    let a = UIAlertView(title: "OK", message: "Attendece has been recorded", delegate: nil, cancelButtonTitle: "OK")

                    println("\(result)")

                    dispatch_async(dispatch_get_main_queue()) {


                    a.show()


                    }


                } else {
                  // display error and do something else

                }


            } else

            {   // we got an error
                println("Error getting stores :\(error.localizedDescription)")

            }


        })

        taskData.resume()



    }


}

PHP Code to get the key values

$empID = $_POST['id'];

$inOut = $_POST['inout'];

$comment = $_POST['comment'];

---

Here's a very simple Swift 4 example in a playground:

import UIKit
// run asynchronously in a playground
import PlaygroundSupport
PlaygroundPage.current.needsIndefiniteExecution = true

// create a url
let url = URL(string: "http://www.stackoverflow.com")

// create a data task
let task = URLSession.shared.dataTask(with: url!) { (data, response, error) in
    if error != nil {
        print("there's a problem")
    }
    print(String(data: data!, encoding: String.Encoding.utf8) ?? "")
}

//running the task w/ resume
task.resume()

---

For XCUITest to stop the test finishing before the async request completes use this (maybe reduce the 100 timeout):

func test_api() {
    let url = URL(string: "https://jsonplaceholder.typicode.com/posts/42")!
    let exp = expectation(description: "Waiting for data")
    let task = URLSession.shared.dataTask(with: url) {(data, response, error) in
        guard let data = data else { return }
        print(String(data: data, encoding: .utf8)!)
        exp.fulfill()
    }
    task.resume()
    XCTWaiter.wait(for: [exp], timeout: 100)
}

---

An example for a sample "GET" request is given below.

let urlString = "YOUR_GET_URL"
let yourURL = URL(string: urlstring)
let dataTask = URLSession.shared.dataTask(with: yourURL) { (data, response, error) in
do {
    let json = try JSONSerialization.jsonObject(with: data!, options: .mutableContainers)
    print("json --- \(json)")
    }catch let err {
    print("err---\(err.localizedDescription)")
    }
   }
dataTask.resume()

---